Category: News

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a status update on railroads’ progress implementing positive train control (PTC) systems in the fourth quarter of 2016. The status update, based on railroad-submitted quarterly data, shows freight railroads continue to make consistent progress while passenger industry progress in installing and activating the life-saving technology only slightly increased.

The latest data, current as of Dec. 31, 2016, confirms freight railroads now have PTC active on just 16% of tracks required to be equipped with PTC systems — up from 12% last quarter. Passenger railroads made less progress — with a slight increase to 24% from 23%.

RELATED: Commuter rail continues to make progress on PTC

Due in large part to Amtrak’s significant progress on PTC, 41% of passenger railroads’ locomotives are now fully equipped with PTC technology, compared to 29% the previous quarter. Freight railroads’ percentage of locomotives fully equipped with PTC technology rose to 42%, up from 38%.

“We continue to closely monitor railroads’ progress implementing Positive Train Control,” said Patrick Warren, FRA Executive Director. “With less than two years remaining to complete the implementation process, it is imperative that railroads continue to meet implementation milestones.”

RELATED: NCTD files app to begin revenue service demo of PTC

Congress requires Class I railroads and entities providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation to implement PTC systems by Dec. 31, 2018. Only if some key implementation and installation milestones are met may railroads be eligible to obtain a limited extension to complete certain non-hardware, operational aspects of PTC system implementation no later than Dec. 31, 2020, subject to the Secretary of Transportation’s approval.

 

Submitted by Chuck Hinrich

Summerail Hotel Information

For those coming to Summerail this year you might be interested in the Summerail group rate at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel at 500 West 3rd St., Covington, KY 41011. This is the hotel made famous by the balconies overlooking the C&O bridge approach on the south side of the Ohio River.

1 King bed $129         2 Queen beds $139

I know the rate is not that cheap, but I was lucky to get them just $5 higher then last year. The Reds are in town this weekend so rooms will go fast.

There are cheaper hotels around the Florence, KY, area, but for sure they don t have a view like the Marriott Courtyard and not as close to CUT.

Anyway, if you are interested telephone reservations can be made by calling the Marriott reservations at 800-321-2211 or directly with the Marriott Courtyard at 859-491-4000. You should of course mention the Courtyard Cincinnati Covington and the Summer Rail Group to get the group rates.

The group rates are only available until Friday 7/18/2014, so please be sure to make your arrangements early. Unreserved rooms will be released, and our block will be closed.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (February 6, 2014) – CSX Corporation (CSX) today announced plans for its subsidiary, CSX Transportation, Inc., to build a new rail inspection yard in Hopkinsville-Christian County, Kentucky. The new facility will support hundreds of local construction and trade jobs while being built and will initially provide more than 50 on-site jobs servicing the growing freight rail corridor that stretches from the Southeast to the Midwest.

“More efficient rail service to Kentucky customers means a more vibrant economy and more opportunities for business expansion throughout the state,” said David A. Hall, resident vice president, state relations CSX.

The proposed facility will stage trains for inspection and fueling, primarily supporting coal unit trains servicing local Kentucky mines. The facility will expand the capacity and efficiency of the network, allowing CSX to serve the increased production levels of customers in Kentucky while also providing the infrastructure to support the expected ongoing growth of commodities along the entire corridor spanning Evansville, Indiana, Birmingham and Chattanooga.

“We are excited about CSX’s investment in Christian County as it will support our region’s growing economy,” said Christian County Judge Executive Steve Tribble.

Hopkinsville Mayor Dan Kemp agreed adding, “I am extremely pleased to see the continued growth of our local employment base with the addition of this important rail infrastructure and the high quality jobs it brings to our community.”

The CSX facility will initially create 50 to 70 jobs, with the potential to add more jobs as traffic volumes continue to grow. Hundreds of local construction and trade jobs will also be supported during construction.

“CSX’s project will also allow businesses to quickly and efficiently transport products to regional markets and beyond,” said Pembroke Mayor Paulette Stewart.

Current yard development plans call for a multi-phase expansion that aligns with growing traffic levels. CSX expects to complete construction by 2015 to meet the increased demand. As plans for the yard are developed, CSX will work with the community to ensure the facility considers the needs of the community and local economy as well as CSX customers.

CSX already has a longstanding presence in Kentucky. It employs more than 2,400 people in the state and invested more than $98 million in its Kentucky network last year.

source: http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/media/press-releases/
Submitted by Steve Miller

We have raised $2.1 million toward our $3.5 million goal to restore the Norfolk & Western Class J 611 Steam Passenger Locomotive. We have received donations from 16 countries and every state in the nation underscoring the popularity of our iconic 4-8-4 around the world.

On November 22, Norfolk Southern donated $1.5 million to the campaign, bringing us much closer toward our goal. Norfolk Southern has not only given us a generous monetary contribution, they are helping
us make the operation of the Class J 611 possible. Thank you, Norfolk Southern, for helping to bring the
dream closer to reality for the many fans of 611.

When will the engine move to the North Carolina Transportation Museum for restoration?

We are working hard to secure the $3.5 million needed for our 611 restoration and maintenance facility. The Fire Up 611! Committee is busy behind the scenes visiting potential donors. The timeline to complete this campaign is based on getting to $3.5 million. The 611 will move to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, North Carolina for restoration as soon as we reach the $3.5 million goal.

The Committee is not waiting for the move to start their preliminary work. They are reviewing engineering drawings from the archives of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society and the VMT. We want to be ready to go as soon as we reach our $3.5 million goal.

We did it!

We knew we needed to stand strongly together to urge Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to save the Hoosier State Amtrak Line, which connects Indianapolis to Chicago and towns and cities in between.

Last night, we learned that Gov. Pence and the Indiana Department of Transportation had reached an eleventh hour agreement to fund the Hoosier State Line

If you live in Indiana, can you send a message to Gov. Pence thanking him for doing the right thing and saving the Hoosier State?

This victory demonstrates that a strong, people-powered campaign can make a big impact.

Thousands of you mobilized to save the Hoosier State, the lifeblood of so many communities and families in Indiana and Illinois. You came to the rallies, spoke up at public hearings and sent thousands of messages to Gov. Pence and other elected leaders.

Quite simply, we could not have won this without you. Let’s let Gov. Pence know he made the right choice by listening to our voices. Click here to send him a note. (This link only works if you live in Indiana.)

This victory is about more than just one Amtrak line. It’s about the future economic viability of our entire region–of millions of Midwestern families.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,
Rick Harnish
Executive Director
Midwest High Speed Rail Association
4765 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Join Us at MidwestHSR.org/Join

– submitted by Bill Corum

Crude-by-Rail Transportation is Growing…

In past months, KBT’s Transportation News has reported on the recent increase of crude oil- by- rail transportation in Canada and the United States. Freight rail transportation of crude, in part, stems from opposition to new pipeline projects from Canada down into the U.S.

For instance, Canadian crude oil companies who had previously considered rail transportation as a short-term solution are now thinking of railroads as a long-term alternative, because railroads are ramping up track improvements and track speeds.

“What we are discovering as we open up our destination matrix is that rail can get to markets that pipelines don’t serve now, and really have no intention of serving,” said Tracy Robinson, a Canadian-Pacific Railway Vice President who has helped direct the company’s crude oil ambitions.

Without question, pipelines are still dominant. And there are a raft of new proposals, which would carry a vast amount of Canadian crude oil to the South, to the West and to the East, which raises the question whether trains are just a short-term solution.

And clearly, rail does suffer one important problem: it’s expensive. In rough terms, rail experts believe it costs twice as much to ship crude oil by train, some experts say $5 to $10 more per barrel.  Ouch!

However, some Canadian crude oils are thick and heavy, requiring an expensive thinner called diluent to move the crude by pipeline. When moved by rail, the heavy Canadian crude move undiluted, which evens out the playing field on transportation costs.  And with rail, crude oil companies can rapidly switch markets, since rail networks reach most points of the U.S., including important economic areas such as the Gulf Coast and California that pipelines from Canada barely touch.

We haven’t lost our minds here.  KBT recognizes that massive quantities of crude oil are required to run the U.S. economy. Any massive shipment of crude oil will generally require pipeline connections.  At the same time, it’s a tribute to American ingenuity and the flexibility of America’s amazing transportation network.  Good luck to our friends in the rail industry!

 

by Times-Mail Staff Writer Roger Moon
Submitted by chapter member Chris Dees

Alan Barnett is retiring in July as general manager of the Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick, but he has no intention of completely separating himself from the career he has enjoyed since the 1970s.

And when Barnett talks about a future of growth for the scenic railway excursions that entertain visitors to the French Lick community, he still sees himself in the mix of people who will make that growth happen.

Although Barnett is giving up the general manager’s position when he turns 65 in July, he will remain at the station. “I will be stepping down to a position called business manager and I can devote whatever time it takes,” said the former Greensburg resident who came to French Lick in 1978 when the museum was moved to Orange County from Greensburg.

Among the museum’s staff members are Rick Olsen and Teresa Richardson. Barnett expressed complete confidence in their ability to take the museum into the future. Olsen will become the general manager. Richardson, in addition to her duties at the station, assumed duties three years ago for another role that Barnett had filled. She is the executive secretary of the French Lick West Baden Chamber of Commerce, which operates out of the museum.

Barnett didn’t want to separate himself from the museum at a time when major physical changes are planned for the facility and at a time when the philosophy behind the museum is changing.

In fact, he suggested the word “museum” doesn’t quite capture what the train rides are about these days.

“We’re basically trending over now to an operation calling itself the French Lick Scenic Railway,” Barnett said, adding that it’s a process. “We want to be able to maintain as much of the historic integrity of this equipment as we can,” Barnett said. But he said, “Most people today, they want to be entertained more than educated. You can educate me, but entertain me in the process. … I think we’re doing a better job of that. We’re beginning to offer them different venues.”

For many years, success was built on taking tourists — and locals — on a rail travel experience that went from French Lick to Cuzco. Trips were offered seasonally with the train departing the station on select days at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

As the years progressed, the economy of French Lick and its environs began suffering as long-standing tourism success began to fade and business dropped off dramatically at the French Lick resort hotel. Barnett was among many from the Valley who lobbied tirelessly for a casino to be built as a tool for rebuilding the tourism industry. The casino was built, the community’s resort hotels were renovated and tourists indeed began returning to Orange County.

The change has brought the venues Barnett suggested had been needed. New opportunities include train excursions that link French Lick to Jasper. Also, a highly popular Polar Express, now in its third year, is available during the Christmas season.

“We’re not doing the 10, 1 and 4 (schedules) anymore,” Barnett said. “Now we’re running only 1 o’clock,” he explained. The cost of fuel and maintaining a crew dictated the change. “We’re finding for the most part the passenger count is not dropping,” Barnett said, adding that passengers have adjusted their schedules to fit the museum’s needs. About 47,000 passengers per year ride the museum’s trains.

It isn’t just the way of thinking that is changing at the museum. “We’ve got a big program going now,” Barnett said, explaining that a $3 million rehabilitation effort is planned and will include moving the museum’s shop and storage facilities to an area near the Springs Valley schools campus.

As the tourist railroad business grows in French Lick, Barnett intends to remain a part of the process. He’s simply scaling back.

“Right now, I’m walking in here every day,” Barnett said. “My plans are, after the first of July, not to walk in here every day.”  But he will continue to play a role.

“I think I still have something to offer,” Barnett said. “At least I hope I do. … So I’m hoping to share the benefit of my years of experience with Rick and Teresa on a day-to-day basis.”

He added, “Genealogy is my second love and I hope to be able to spend more time working in that area. I’ve been away from it now for 10 years or more.”

Times-Mail Staff Writer Roger Moon welcomes comments at 277-7253 or roger@tmnews.com.

 

Amtrak is calling “all kids—young and old” to join the coast-to-coast celebration of train love. On Saturday, May 7th, hundreds of National Train Day festivities are taking place across the country including four major events in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago. At each you can enjoy: Free live entertainment, Interactive and educational exhibits, Kids activities, Model train displays, Tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains, and of notable private railroad cars, and much more.  You can attend an event near you, host one of your own, or participate online. Start the celebration today at nationaltrainday.com.